Senior Prom queen, king crowned

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 30, 2003 by Capital-Journal

The Capital-Journal

Gladis Leinmiller came to the Beyond 50 Senior Prom not to dance but to hear the band.

Escorted by her grandson, James Martin, who lives in the Kansas City area, she was helping her daughter select a band for a future wedding.

Nonetheless, she was selected the queen on the third annual Topeka Capital-Journal Senior Prom on March 15 at the Ramada Inn Downtown.

Leinmiller is 93, was the eldest young woman at the dance. Her king was Glen Heiser, of Paxico, who will be 89 in April. He and his wife, who is 86, danced the royalty dance.

Norma Chase, marketing director of The Topeka Capital-Journal, said more than 300 people attended the annual event for beyond-50s.

The crowd included young dancers, who grabbed a chance to dance to the music of the Kings of Swing.